Just in time for the holiday season, Spark Networks®, owner and operator of JDate®, is spreading a little holiday cheer to the victims of 9/11 and their families. Spark, is donating more than $32,000 to Tuesday’s Children, a non-profit organization committed to serving those impacted by the events of September 11, 2001 and terrorist incidents worldwide.
The funds will support Tuesday’s Children’s First Responder Alliance program, which serves 9/11 rescue and recovery workers suffering from physical and mental health issues related to the disaster. FRA serves more than 2,000 people, and is the only program providing programming and services for any and all responders, as well as their immediate family members.
From firefighters and EMS personnel to police officers and construction workers, there were nearly 40,000 people working at Ground Zero on September 11, 2011. Many now suffer from physical and mental health issues, including chronic respiratory and gastrointestinal ailments, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and cancer. Spark’s donation will support health and wellness programs for these rescue workers and their family members.
Spark raised the money through a giving-back initiative involving two of its premier websites, JDate and ChristianMingle®, in honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Each site donated a percentage of all new subscriptions purchased on September 11, 2011, to Tuesday’s Children, totaling more than $32,000.
“As a company whose mission is building families and communities, we are proud to partner with Tuesday’s Children,” says Greg Liberman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Spark Networks. “For us and the millions of members of our communities, the holidays are all about giving and we are honored to be able to make this impactful gift to help support Tuesday’s Children and, specifically, their First Responder Alliance Program.”
Spark’s mission is to help people make connections and foster meaningful relationships using its extensive portfolio of online communities. The company’s emphasis on family building and community falls directly in line with Tuesday’s Children’s objective to strengthen families affected by terrorism, giving this donation great significance to the team at Spark.